Species · GBIF taxon 2492096
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusillaAlso known as Bush Sparrow
Field sparrows are gentle, warm-faced songbirds of overgrown pastures and brushy old fields, easily recognized by their sweet, accelerating song that sounds like a bouncing ping-pong ball. They build cup nests close to the ground early in the season, moving them higher into shrubs as summer foliage thickens. These birds are highly territorial during the breeding season but form loose, quiet flocks with other sparrows in the winter.
SongbirdGrasslandMigratory
Licensed reference(c) Helen J, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasshoppers
- Beetles
- Grass Seeds
Predators
- Domestic Cats
- Hawks
- Snakes
ThreatsHabitat loss due to forest succession, intensive agriculture, and suburban development
HabitatsOld fields, brushy pastures, forest edges, and overgrown roadsides
Life span3 to 6 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPasserellidae
- SpeciesSpizella pusilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for the song: Identify them by their distinctive song, which starts with slow, sweet whistles and accelerates like a dropped ping-pong ball.
- Scan brushy edges: Look for them perched on low shrubs, fence lines, or tall weeds in overgrown fields rather than deep forests.
- Provide brush piles: Attract them to rural yards by maintaining brushy borders or native grass patches near woody cover.
Look-alike 
Close Relative (c) Peter Chen 2.0, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Peter Chen 2.0 · cc-byClose Relative Close Relative
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